More people than ever are working from home, with about 43 percent of Americans saying they work remotely at least some of the time. While some people telecommute from a full-time job, others own their own business from home. If you’re interested in doing the same, check out some ideas on what kind of business you might want to start.
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Direct Sales
If you have a knack for selling products, you might as well do it from home. These days, there’s a company that sells just about everything, from workout clothes and shakes to makeup and candles. Pick a product you’re passionate about and join the team. You can do most of the work from home by marketing online and having parties that show off the products you’re selling.
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Virtual Assistant
Business owners often need help with a few common tasks, such as sending emails, answering phone calls, and setting appointments. If you’re familiar with the duties of a secretary, you can probably handle being a virtual assistant from home.
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Event Planning
If people always compliment you on how well planned your parties are, consider making money from this skill. Many people don’t know where to start when it’s time to plan a birthday party, anniversary party, or wedding. If you’re great at prioritizing tasks and negotiating rates from vendors, making this a full-time job may be right for you.
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Freelance Writing
If you’re skilled with words, you can start writing for businesses. After all, many CEOs don’t have the time or desire to write, but they need content for their website, blog, email newsletters, and social media accounts. When you write from home, you can set your own schedule and choose the work you’re interested in. There’s no need to sell any products and you don’t have to supervise any employees, so look into this job if you’re good at writing.
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Daycare
Whether you have young children at home and don’t want to be away from them, or just like taking care of kids, starting your own daycare may be a good way to earn money. Just figure out how many children you can legally watch in your home, decide on your rates and rules, and start reaching out to parents in your city.
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Car Mechanic
People always need car repairs and regular maintenance. If you’re good at diagnosing and fixing car problems, why not work from your own garage or driveway as a mechanic? You don’t necessarily have to know everything about cars to make a living in this business, as you can specialize based on what you know. If you can do oil changes quickly or are great with transmissions, make sure your customers know this so they can call you when they need your services.
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Photography
If you have an eye for photography, it may be time to start getting paid for it. Begin by making sure you have the right camera for the job, and then just practice taking, developing, and editing pictures as much as you can. Consider enrolling in some classes so you can become an expert on photographing newborns, weddings, and other life events.
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Crafting
Many people want homemade goods and have no idea how to get them because they can’t knit, crochet, make candles, or create jewelry. If you’re good at doing any of this, you can start selling your products to people who want something more unique than a store-bought item.
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Homemade Food
The same people who want crafty homemade products often crave homemade foods, too. If you’re good at baking cookies, pies, and cakes, or you have a flair for making amazing enchiladas, consider selling your food out of your home. Just check with your local city and county laws to find out what rules you have to follow.
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Medical Billing
Lots of doctor’s offices need help with billing, and it’s a job you can do from home. You’ll likely need some training for this job and should be familiar with medical terms, but it’s a good fit for many people. In most cases, you can decide how much work to take on and when to do it, giving you some flexibility as you make money.
No matter which of these businesses you choose to build, obtaining the right insurance is important if you want to protect yourself as a business owner. Check with a few insurance providers to get an estimate on the policy that best suits your business.
